Make a Difference: Contact the MMS

The polls are clear: a majority of Americans support drilling for oil and natural gas. So, aside from writing letters to their elected representatives, what can they do about it? They can send a message to the Minerals Management Service (MMS) encouraging them to open the entire Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) to exploration and production in the next five-year plan.

The MMS, which is responsible for administering the offshore oil and natural gas program, considers the size, timing, and the location of areas to be opened for federal leasing, and it bases its recommendations on the public's comments. The plan is reviewed by Congress and approved by the Secretary of the Interior.

The MMS is accepting public comments on its 2010-2015 plan until next Monday, September 15th. So now is the time to act.

Showing support for drilling via MMS can have an immediate impact on the next leasing plan and can send a message to lawmakers. You can send a comment by going to this website. Just follow the directions -- it's easy and you can make a difference in America's energy future.